Some Concerns About This Appointment
The process that gave birth to the eventual appointment of German Tactician Bruno Lebbadia as Super Eagles coach raises more questions than answers. For me, the key one is: what are the (dubious) conditions that Mr Labbadia agreed to that other more suitable coaches rejected flat out?
The NFF led us long-suffering Super Eagles fans up-the-garden-path that they intend hiring a coach who ticks, at least, one of the following 2 boxes: 1) African coaching experience; 2) National team coaching experience.
Hence, it is now a source of mild concern, and it raises suspicion to me that all the coaches shortlisted prior ( Herve Renard, Eric Chelle, Tom Saintfiet, Steve McClaren) who ticked at least one of these two boxes were all dropped after discussions kicked the bucket.
The NFF now alighed for a coach with no prior experience of coaching a national team and no prior experience of working in Africa; going against the grain of benchmark the NFF itself set.
Why?
Well I suspect because this was the only coach willing to allegedly bend his standards, navigate their bureaucratic sludge, and agree to their arcane demands, terms and conditions. So I wonder, what are the demands that knocked suitable options into a cocked hat of rejection in favour of a less suitable candidate?
Having got that off my chest, I don't think this is a bad appointment. By very nature, the pace of club football is fast, furious and relentless. So, I think this factor in and of itself makes Mr Labbadia a more suitable for the Super Eagles job because we need someone to come in and hit the terra-firma running , never looking back until he reaches the finish line of Afcon and World Cup qualifications.
Mr Labbadia in a way represents a spiritual tactical continuation to the reign of Finidi.
They both play 4-3-3 formation with emphasis on overlapping fullbacks, creativity in the middle, effective wing play and methodical build up play.
As a striker by trade during his playing days, his direction and instructions to our centre forwards should help unlock their potentials and enhance their ruthlessness in front of goal. Labbadia was a damn deadly centre forward with commendable goals-to-games ratio.
He should be able to get the Super Eagles to play an attacking brand of football within a solid tactical infrastructure that doesn't sacrifice defensive solidity.
He should also be able to come to ground with a credible team of backroom staff that he will be willing to listen to and take counsel from.
I think it is high profile appointment. Having someone who has Bundesliga coaching experience over many years for reputable clubs is beyond critique and a valuable accoutrement in certain ways.
I hope it works out.
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